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A top Goldman Sachs dealmaker explains the No.1 lesson she's learned in her career.

The truth can be a tough pill to swallow. But
ignoring the truth, in many cases, can make things a lot worse.

And it is for that reason that Clare Scherrer, a partner at
Goldman Sachs, advises wannabe Wall Streeters to accept honest
feedback, even if it is sounds harsh.

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"The most important lesson I have learned in my career is
to always solicit direct and honest feedback," Scherrer said in a
recent Q&A with Goldman Sachs podcast, Exchanges at
Goldman Sachs."

Scherrer, who is global co-head of industrials in Goldman
Sachs' investment banking division, got her start at the firm as
a summer associate in 1995, and has since risen through
the ranks. So she knows what it takes to get ahead in financial
services. She says being self-aware about what you're good at and
what you need to work on is crucial.

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses and we all have our
blind spots to our self-awareness," she said. "I think it's very
important to solicit regular and candid feedback and when doing
so, one has to be a good listener."

Scherrer warns young people to avoid being overly sensitive to
constructive criticism. She said:

"It's very easy to get defensive and say why the person who's
giving you that feedback might be mistaken when, in fact, what
you should do is not talk, and listen, and take it onboard.
Related to that, however, is that you should be resilient. So
when you get constructive feedback, you shouldn't let that get
you down; you should actually celebrate that someone cared enough
about you to give you some things that you could work."

Scherrer said that female employees in particular might have to
work harder to get that constructive criticism out of their
managers.

"Because sometimes, not always, but sometimes a man can be a
little bit hesitant to give harsh or critical feedback to a woman
when, in fact, that's exactly what you need if you're trying to
shore up your weaknesses and play to your strengths," she
concluded.